LeBron James’ Loyalty Comments Kicks Off Brutal Brooklyn Nets - Miami Heat Rivalry

The rivalry between the Brooklyn Nets and the Miami Heat is already heating up and the season hasn't even started yet.

LeBron James put more spice in Thursday's preseason game between the two Eastern Conference giants after indirectly lambasting former Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry for what he called a "startling" hypocrisy.  

James, who has engaged in a number of heated playoff battles with the Boston Celtics, apparently couldn't take the alleged hypocrisy surrounding the trade that sent Garnett, Terry and Pierce to Brooklyn last summer.

The four-time NBA MVP believed the former Celtics trio owes another former Celtic-turned-Heat teamate Ray Allen, an apology after criticizing his move to abandon Boston and join the Heat in the summer of 2012.

"The first thing that I thought was like, 'Wow, Ray (Allen) got killed for leaving Boston and now these guys are leaving Boston," James told reporters on Wednesday, according to ESPN. "I think it's OK. I don't mind it, but there were a couple guys that basically (criticized) Ray for leaving and everybody else is leaving."

Garnett, Pierce, Terry and even former head coach Doc Rivers all took some shots at Allen for abandoning the proud franchise. But now, all four of them ironically left Boston for a chance to win another championship.

James, who left the Cleveland Cavaliers to team up with fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, said he can very much relate to the situation.

"I can relate to that; you think so? I'm the No. 1 relater," James said. "I've been through it all. I know all about it."

Wade also agreed to James' comments, saying Allen only made what was best for his career.   

"We all know the world, how it works," Wade said. "The biggest thing is Ray is happy [in Miami]. If they're happy in Brooklyn, then let them be happy.

"People say things about people when they do something when they themselves would do the same thing. It's about putting yourself in the best situation, and at the end of the day, we all do that. You can't really say anything about someone that does it for themselves," he added.

The Nets have emerged as a threat to the Heat's reign in the Eastern Conference following the arrivals of Garnett, Pierce and Terry, who will all assume crucial roles for their new team next season.

Thursday's preseason showdown will serve as just a sneak peak of how intense this rivalry could turn out to be this season. The Heat and the Nets are two ambitious teams loaded with All-Star caliber talents. Like the old Boston-Miami slugfest, the Nets-Heat feud is expected to feature trash-talking and physical plays all over the floor. In the end, only the better team will prevail.